Support for Buy from the Bush is rocketing along as the social media campaign continues to stimulate sales for retailers in drought-hit communities.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Its Instagram and Facebook pages have each captured 100,000 followers within a month of launching to connect country stores and creatives with metro shoppers.
Buy from the Bush founder Grace Brennan of the Warren district described reaching the six-digit milestone on Instagram this week as "incredible".
Its rapidly-growing following has also seen it feature in national media.
Attention is turning to ensuring the impacts are long-lasting, and Facebook Australia will come to two Orana region towns this week to run free digital workshops for business owners.
The Boost with Facebook program will go to Warren on Wednesday morning and Coonamble on Thursday morning and Mrs Brennan encouraged people to make the most of the opportunity.
"Facebook Australia reached out to us probably in week one of our campaign and offered support," she said.
"Part of that support was to provide training sessions for bush businesses and it's really about teaching them best practice when it comes to using Facebook and Instagram for their businesses.
"It's an incredible opportunity to build the capacity of bush businesses to leverage this Buy from the Bush opportunity in the lead up to Christmas.
"But going forward also, just to use their Instagram and Facebook in the best possible way to grow their following and grow their customers, especially for those that don't have online websites and are needing to use Instagram and Facebook and social following as a direct connection with the consumer."
Interested parties should register directly through Facebook and spaces are limited, Mrs Brennan said.
Sophia Acheson, co-owner of Klou at Dubbo, has booked into the Warren session.
The boutique recently featured on Buy from the Bush, the exposure delivering Sydney customers and growth in its Instagram following, she said.
"The drought has been a ripple effect I guess, and a lot of people, not just farmers but everybody is suffering as a result of it," she said.
"[Buy from the Bush] couldn't have happened at a better time actually, especially leading up into Christmas, because sales and foot traffic have definitely been slow but just with that added exposure it's helping things tick along."
Faye Wheeler
I have been a journalist for more than a decade and in that time I have been keeping Daily Liberal readers up to date about issues affecting them and what's happening in their community. Throughout my career I have covered a range of rounds and most recently I have been focusing on the business round.
I have been a journalist for more than a decade and in that time I have been keeping Daily Liberal readers up to date about issues affecting them and what's happening in their community. Throughout my career I have covered a range of rounds and most recently I have been focusing on the business round.
